Brno
The second largest and second most important city of the Czech Republic
is also the traditional Moravian metropolis and the historical residence
of the Premyslides family. The municipal privileges were given to
the town by the Bohemian King Vaclav I in 1243.
The Spilberk Castle, which creates a silhouette in the town,
was originally a Gothic palace with two chapels and later became a
Baroque fort. In the 19th century the dreaded prison for political
prisoners - known as "The prison of the nations" was built
there.
The Gothic St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral dominates Petrov
Hill. At the beginning of the 16th century an original portal
of the Old Town Hall with a Gothic vial was built in Brno.
A number of other historical buildings should be mentioned, such as
the monastery buildings of clerical orders, the Parnas Baroque-naturalistic
Fountain, the Episcopal Courtyard, Renaissance palaces
of the nobility from Lipe and Kunstat, St. Jacob's Church and
the Hausper?s Palace, which is now a residence of the "Husa
na provazku" Theatre.
Brno also became a significant center of modern architecture. The
Klein's Palace was built in a modern style at the end of the
19th century (cast-iron elements, flush toilet, etc.). The Mahen?s
Theatre was the first theatre to use electricity. Structures,
which were built in the Secession, Early Modernism and functionalism
style, are among the most important ones in the country.
It is impossible to miss out on the Tugendhat Villa, which
is an excellent example of the functionalist style of European significance
dating from 1929, designed by the German architect Mies van der Rohe.
Also the complex of unified buildings of the Brno Exhibition Center
from the period between the thirties and sixties belongs to this style.
About 50 trade fairs are organized here annually.
Brno also offers lots of attractive destinations outside the town
center - such as the Zoo Park, a botanical garden, an
arboretum and large garden parks. The motor-racing circuit with a
new Masaryk?s circuit hosts the World Motorcycling Championship known
as the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. |
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